Protecting your rights starts from the first time you speak with a police officer, which is why it’s important to remain silent when you’re being placed under arrest.
Vista Lawyer Peter M. Liss: A Trusted Source for News Reporters
Reporters reach out to Peter M. Liss on a variety of topics because they know he is a respected source with an excellent understanding of the California criminal justice system.
What’s the Difference Between Different Types of Attorneys?
Have a hard time differentiating between prosecutors, defense lawyers, public defenders and judges? Here’s what you should know before you head into court.
Are Lawyers Allowed to Lie on Behalf of Their Clients?
There are probably hundreds of jokes about lawyers lying for a living, but no matter what public opinion, legal standards prohibit attorneys from knowingly telling a lie. If a lawyer lies, he is risking his law license. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct specifically says that while they must do what […]
How Lawyer May be Able to Get a Confession Thrown Out of Court in Vista
We’ve previously talked about how police push suspects into confessing to criminal acts, but while it’s always better not to confess the first time, you can still fight the charges even if you have already admitted guilt. Here are a few ways a criminal defense lawyer may be able to have a confession tossed out […]
Better Understanding the “Plain Sight” Doctrine
All Americans are protected against unreasonable search and seizure thanks to the Fourth Amendment, but defining what qualifies as unreasonable is a complex process. That’s where the plain view doctrine comes in -it states that police can search your home or vehicle without a warrant if they see evidence of a crime in plain sight. […]
Patient and Physician Confidentiality in the Criminal Courts
There are many relationships given special confidentiality protections in the courts: lawyer/client, therapist/patient, spousal, priest/confessor and doctor/patient. Like all of these protected communications, there are many rules that cover how physician confidentiality works when it comes to the criminal courts, including the nature of the information and how it will be used. Not Everything You […]
Police Can Legally Lie to Suspects in Vista; Here are the 6 Most Common
Most people assume that because police are charged with upholding the law that they wouldn’t lie to perform their duties. This is a very problematic assumption because it’s simply not true. Law enforcement agents can legally lie to suspects (and often do) to get suspects to confess or otherwise get them to do what they […]
What You Should Know About Victim Restitution Payments in Vista
If you are convicted of a crime, you may be required to pay compensation to the victim or be ordered to pay a fine, particularly if a victim was injured or suffered financial losses as a result of your actions. Here’s what you should know about victim restitution and criminal fines and how the two […]
What Kinds of Things are Illegal to Bring Into California?
Whether moving to California from another state or just visiting, it’s important to know that there are some things you simply can’t take with you into the Golden State. These things include certain types of pets, foods and weapons. While these items may be legal in the U.S. in general, the fact that they are […]
